Winnebago County Health Department to host ‘Bridges Out of Poverty’ workshop

The Winnebago County Health Department will host a workshop entitled “Bridges Out of Poverty: Strategies for Professionals and Communities,” presented by Jodi Pfarr, on Thursday, Oct. 28. The workshop will be held from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Hoffman House Conference Center, East State Street and Bell School Road. Cost is $40 per person, payable at the door.

“Bridges Out of Poverty” represents a powerful tool for change based in part on Dr. Ruby Payne’s A Framework for Understanding Poverty. “Bridges” reaches out to the millions of service providers and businesses whose daily work connects them with the lives of people in poverty. The training contains case studies, detailed analysis, helpful charts, exercises and specific solutions you and your organization can implement right now. Topics include: increasing awareness of the differences in economic cultures, how those differences affect opportunities for success, and developing an action plan to improve services to clients. This workshop is designed for employers, community organizations, law enforcement, counselors, health care and social service providers.

Jodi Pfarr of Minneapolis, Minn., brings to her audiences the knowledge gained from direct experience with not-for-profit organizations. Pfarr serves as executive director for Emma Norton Services, providing housing to single women with low income, mental illness and/or chemical dependency issues. She worked for several years for Catholic Charities supervising low-income housing units for people with mental illness, chronic inebriation, and/or low incomes. This followed her post of supervising Special Needs Shelter for the Salvation Army.

Jodi Pfarr has a master of divinity degree, was formerly a certified critical debriefer for the St. Paul Police Department, and wrote the book Tactical Communication for law enforcement. She is familiar with the police culture and the challenges officers face. She has advised several city and county agencies on projects relating to poverty issues.